TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
PULCHOWK CAMPUS
PULCHOWK, LALITPUR, NEPAL

Quality Management Practices in Road Construction

By

AYUSH PURI
PUL075MSCoM003

A STUDY REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
PULCHOWK CAMPUS
PULCHOWK, LALITPUR, NEPAL

SUBMITTED TO: PROF. VISWA NATH KHANAL

DECEMBER 31, 2019

Contents
Quality Management Practices in Road Construction .................................................................... 1
Background: ................................................................................................................................ 1
QA/QC System: .......................................................................................................................... 2
Quality Control of Road Works: (Chattaraj) .............................................................................. 3
Quality Control Inspections: ....................................................................................................... 6
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................... 8

Figures:
Figure 1: Cross Section and Structural Component of Flexible Pavement .................................... 3
Figure 2: Levelling works on road .................................................................................................. 4
Figure 3: Paver and Tandem Roller ................................................................................................ 5
Figure 4: Checking of Camber at Site............................................................................................. 5
 Quality Management Practices in Road Construction

Background:
Transportation: Transportation is often seen as integral part of development of a country along
with education. Transportation connects people, places and helps in exchange between people and
allows trade of materials. Transportation contributes in social & economic development of the
country.
Road and its importance: Road networks are one of the most common means of transportation.
Along with other modes of transportation like rail transportation & air transportation, roadways
are major mode of transportation. Few importance of roads are as follows:
1. Among various available transport system - road transportation is easily accessible and
economical when compared with other modes
2. Roads are the cheapest and convenient way of transporting goods and people from one
place to another.
3. They are very flexible as compared to the other form of transport. The vehicles can be
stopped anywhere and anytime if needed.
4. Roads play a role of feeders to railways. Without the good roads, railways cannot collect
sufficient produce to make their operation possible.

Quality: To simply define quality, the deliver services that meet or exceed our client’s
requirements and those we set for ourselves is quality. Quality in construction industry can be
defined as the attainment of acceptable levels of performance from construction activities. This
performance would be attained when the activity meets or exceeds the requirement of the client
or the owner. The quality of any product or service is achieved when it conforms to the desired
specifications. (constructor, n.d.)

Objective of Quality in construction: (Jackson, 2010)

The quality in construction relates to the following objectives:
1. Satisfaction of Contract Specifications
2. Completion of Project within Time
3. Enhancing Customer/ Owner Satisfaction
4. Motivation and Empowerment of Employees
5. Avoiding Disputes and Claims
6. Performance based on Purpose

The Quality schemes will carry out the studies for:

1. Selection of types of material and methods to be included in design,
2. Ensure design in accordance with all applicable codes and regulation
3. Control construction on the project based on standards and contracts

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QA/QC System: (CDM)
Quality Management: A company must have a quality management system and fully integrate it into the
organizational structure and performance management for each project. Company shall:
1. Maintain a documented quality system consisting of a quality manual with policies and procedures.
2. Tightly control exceptions to quality control system so company standards are applying uniformly
to every project
3. Systematically maintain quality system documents and records.

Quality Control Personnel: A company shall fully integrate its quality management system into
the organizational structure and performance management systems for each project. Company
shall:
1. Appoint a Quality Manager, Superintendent, and Project Manager to each project, each with well-
defined quality responsibilities and the authority to carry them out.
2. Have well-defined quality responsibilities for every employee with specific quality responsibilities
for key job positions.
3. Plan project quality records and documentation that will be maintained.
4. Tightly control exceptions to the quality system so company standards are applied uniformly to
every project
5. Enforce policies that monitor work conditions before and during work so that quality results are
assured.
Responsibilities of QC Manager: QC Manager shall be responsible for the following:

 Preparation, approval and implementation of the QC Plan.

 Performing and documenting field inspections.
 Verification of materials as per project plans and specifications
 Maintain documentation of inspection status of materials.
 Maintain documentation for material and administrative approvals.
 Preparing daily Quality Control Reports.
 Scheduling, reviewing, certifying, and managing the submittals.
 Maintaining the Submittal Register.
 Providing coordination of required quality control testing, reviewing results, and submitting.
 Coordinating, documenting, and tracking preparatory, initial, and follow-up inspections.
 Tracking construction deficiencies and ensuring timely corrective action.
 Coordinating field-sampling activities (as required).
 Reviewing calibration of test equipment (as necessary).
 Preparing addenda to the Quality Control Plan as necessary when additional phases of work are
added.
 Maintenance of as-built drawings.
 Coordinating responses to vendors’ requests for information and technical issues.
 Serving as main point of contact at the site for consultant/client questions and discussions on quality
and technical issues.
 Delegating duties to alternate Quality Control Manager and notifying consultant/client to whom
what duties have been delegated.

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  Development of means and methods to store and protect materials.
 Ensure that all materials and construction are in accordance with the requirements for the
completeness, accuracy and constructability in accordance with applicable building codes.
 Carryout and participate in weekly progress and QC meetings.

Quality Control of Road Works: (Chattaraj)

Figure 1: Cross Section and Structural Component of Flexible Pavement

Things to be checked in road works:

1. Maximum dry density of embankment and subgrade as per table 300-1 of 5 th revision of
MORTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: Specification for Road and Bridge
Works) and test carried as per IS 2720 (modified proctor)
2. CBR Value as per IS 2720
3. Field Density in accordance with IS 2720 and compaction control
4. Tolerance check for level of sub-grade ± 20mm as per table 900-1 of 5 th revision of
MORTH.

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 Figure 2: Levelling works on road

5. Granular Sub-base (GSB): When GSB layer is comprised of two layers- upper & lower,
the upper GSB layer should be treated as drainage layer and the lower GSB layer should
be treated as separating/ filler layer. Test physical requirements of granular sub-base i.e.
Gradation, Aggregate impact value, Liquid Limit, Plastic limit, CBR such that
requirements of table 400-2 of 5th Revision of MORTH is satisfied. Also, perform design
mix, field testing, tolerance checking and compaction control.
6. Granular Base Course WBM/WMM: WBM works are not generally been adopted in
project works, its use is more or less confined to maintenance natured work only (deeper
potholes mending). But during maintenance natured work, wherever WBM is done, it
should be ensured that there is no bituminous layer or any other impervious natured layer
underneath. In clause no.404.3.1 of 5th. revision it is also stated in the same way. If so,
even the deeper potholes are also advised to be mended with bituminous work. This is
equally applicable in case of WMM too. The materials chosen for WMM should satisfy
the physical properties (LA Abrasion/Aggregate Impact Value, Combined flakiness and
elongation index) as per table 400-12 of 5th revision.
7. Priming of base course: A good prime coat should meet the following requirements: a) It
should penetrate at least 8 to 10 mm into the WMM b) It should normally be absorbed
within 48 hours c) It should not be excessive on the surface of WMM. No prime coat is
better than excessive prime coat because the latter is detrimental to the flexible pavement.
Cationic bitumen emulsion SS-1 Grade conforming to IS:8887 only and not as per
ASTM D 2397 shall be used as primer. (S.K. Khandal)
8. Bituminous work: Perform mix design of bitumen work (Marshall mix design), perform
aggregate grading with respect to bitumen content Table & of IRC 111 (2009)
9. Perform compaction with Paver and Tandem Roller and Pneumatic Rollers

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 Figure 3: Paver and Tandem Roller

10. Check and verify camber at site.

Figure 4: Checking of Camber at Site

11. Field checking of bituminous work: The range of temperature of dense graded bituminous
mix during different operations like mixing, laying and rolling for different grade of paving
bitumen has been laid down in Table 10 of IRC: 111 (2009) or table 500-2 of 5 th revision.

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Quality Control Inspections:
The Quality Control Manager and Site Superintendents will conduct inspections of work in progress
to confirm construction quality and maintain compliance with the contract drawings and
specifications. The QC procedures for fieldwork are based on a three-phase protocol. In general, the
Quality Control Manager will perform the field inspections and will carry out the following three-
phased inspections and surveillance for each DFOW:

Preparatory Phase:
Preparatory meetings shall be held prior to the beginning of any major definable feature of work. A
meeting shall be held for each crew performing such feature or when members of the crew change.
The Preparatory Meeting shall be conducted by the Quality Control Manager and/or designee after
a complete review of all applicable plans, specifications and related submittals has been made. A
Preparatory Meeting Checklist shall be completed for each definable feature of work and
distributed at the meetings. At the Preparatory Meeting, the Site Superintendent and Foreman
(involved in this phase of construction) shall coordinate with Quality Assurance, Quality Control
and Safety personnel and shall introduce the plan for accomplishing the work. The consultant shall
be notified in writing in advance of the Preparatory Meeting.
The following items will be discussed at such meetings.
 Review of the applicable specification.
 Review of applicable plans and shop drawings.
 Review of related submittals and a check that all related submittals, shop drawings and
materials have been tested, submitted and approved.
 Review of the detailed sequence of the execution of the work.
 Discuss testing required and frequency.
 Review provisions to provide controlled inspection and testing.
 Examination of the work area to ensure that all required preliminary work has been
Completed and follows the contract.
 Examination of the related material, review of the Receiving Inspection Reports and
verification that they follow the contract and are properly stored.
 Review of the Activity Hazard Analysis Report to ensure that all safety precautions are met
 The required safety equipment has been purchased and is available.
 Review and document the workmanship expected for the definable feature of work.
 Meeting minutes shall be filed and distributed within 48 hours of the conclusion of the
meeting.

Initial Phase:
Initial Inspections shall be performed at the beginning of any definable feature of work and must be
repeated at any time new workmen or new crews are assigned to the work or if the required.
standard of work is not being met. The CMC shall be notified in writing in advance. The same
personnel who attended the Preparatory Meeting shall also attend the Initial Inspection. These
should include: Site Superintendent and Foreman, Safety Personnel and the QA/QC staffs. The
following shall be accomplished during such meetings.
 Review the minutes of the Preparatory Meeting and verify that the work follows the design
documents; i.e., submittals, specifications, plans and/or shop drawings.
 Resolve all differences.
 Verify adequacy of inspection and testing.
 Establish a level of workmanship and verify that it meets the requirements.

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 Check Safety and review the Activity Hazard Analysis Report.
 Provide documentation of the previous inspection of the work area.
 Re-examine the work area for compliance.
Initial Phase meeting minutes shall be filed and distributed within 48 hours of the conclusion of
the meeting.

Follow-up Phase:
Follow-Up Inspections shall be performed to ensure that the control established during
Preparatory Meeting and Initial Inspection continues to provide a product that conforms to
the contractual requirements.
 Daily construction activities are inspected by Site Inspectors in accordance with the
Construction Quality Assurance Plan and the Daily Progress Report is completed.
 Installation and testing activities which do not comply with the requirements are
documented on a Non-Conformance Report (NCR).
 Modifications, repairs and/or replacement of materials and/or parts performed after
Final Inspection require replacement of materials and/or parts installed. Re-
inspection and re- testing are required to verify acceptability. Inspection and testing
documents are submitted to consultant and are filed and maintained in accordance
reporting and recording requirements of contract.

Work inspected, at any stage of construction, which is found to be unsatisfactory shall be

re-inspected after correction of the noted deficiencies have been made. When required, test
reports and/or start-up commissioning procedures, pertaining to certain mechanical and
electrical systems, such as those to be performed by manufacturer's representatives, shall
be furnished to the Client for review and comment prior to the Preparatory Meeting.
Quality Control Reports shall be created and/or revised (as necessary) to implement the
Quality Control Plan.

Work Completion Inspection:

Upon completion of each DFOW, the Quality Control Manager will inspect the work for
quality, completeness, and compliance with the contract drawings and specifications. The
results of the work completion inspections will be documented in the daily, weekly and
monthly reports. If a defect is identified during a completion inspection, it will be corrected
and inspected a second time prior to determining the DFOW as complete.

Other Inspections:
 Punch-out inspections
 Pre-final inspection
 Final inspection

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Bibliography
1. CDM. (n.d.). Quality Control Plan.
2. Chattaraj, R. (n.d.). Steps for Better Quality Control of Road Works.
3. constructor, T. (n.d.). The constructor. Retrieved from The constructor:
https://theconstructor.org/construction/quality-construction-objectives-factors-
affecting/707/
4. Jackson, B. J. (2010). Construction Management JumpStart. Indiananapolis, Indiana:
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
5. Vangsted, T. (n.d.). Ensuring Effective Quality Management of Road Projects in the
Construction Branch.